"I designed this seal as a secondary measure," Ryu said calmly, his gaze shifting from the intricate pattern he had just finished to Kohinata Mukai. "It is more of a fail-safe. It is designed to restart his heart if it completely fails. But we also need a primary seal that ensures his heart never stops and the rhythm of his heartbeats is maintained. I should also mention that a chakra-based seal can fail, either because the wearer runs out of chakra or because someone with knowledge of seals interferes with it. I can add built-in chakra storage to solve the first problem, but the other is still a problem... Even if I encrypt seals, a grandmaster can still interfere with them, so even with both of these seals, we will still need another backup."
Ryu's words were a stark contrast to the sense of reassurance they offered. He held up a small, shimmering silver seal. "He needs to have a backup plan in the form of an electronic pacemaker."
"A backup plan on top of a backup plan?" Dan Hamura commented with a hint of amusement. "You're really thorough, aren't you?"
Ryu offered a slight smile, his eyes holding a depth of seriousness that countered Dan's light-hearted remark. "For now, you can be at ease, Mr Kohinata."
Mukai shook his head, and a genuine smile broke through his previously tense expression, radiating relief and warmth. "Please, call me Mukai." He then paused, his eyes meeting Ryu's. "Mukai… did you think about my offer? I could use a ninja like you, and you can also trust me with your secret."
"Yes." Mukai nodded slowly, considering Ryu's offer. The events of the last few days, the desperation and the relief, had made his choice clear. "I will join you," he replied, a sense of relief washing over him. He had found not just a new purpose but an ally who saw beyond the village's rigid rules.
"I'm glad to have you on board, Mukai," Ryu said warmly, the silver seal glinting in his hand. "Together, we can accomplish great things." He then turned to Mikaika. "Shall we put this seal on you now?"
Mukai nodded, his trust in Ryu absolute. He placed a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder. "It will be fine, son."
Ryu stood in front of the boy and reassured him, "This won't hurt at all; it's not like getting an injection." Ryu gently placed the seal on Mikaika's chest. Mukai watched with bated breath, his own heart pounding with anxiety despite his reassurances.
"Is it done?" Mikaika asked, blinking in surprise.
Ryu chuckled. "It was done five seconds ago. And like I promised… no pain. I am a man of my word."
Dan stepped forward, his expression softening as he looked at Mikaika. "You're still a brat, but you're right about that part."
"That could be our family motto," Ryu said with a playful grin, a rare flicker of casual humour in his demeanour. "The Hamura always keep their word. How does that sound, Ms Secretary?"
Ryu glanced at Kaori, who simply smiled.
Dan said, "Kohinata, we were on urgent business earlier. Now that Mikaika is under the protection of this seal, can we leave now?"
Ryu said, "Yes, we were in a hurry then. Why don't you join us?"
Mukai asked, "What about my son? Will he be alright here?"
Ryu smiled and replied, "Don't worry. He will be fine here. He won't be alone here, and I have some prototype video games in the living room. Mikaika would love them."
Mikaika's eyes sparkled with excitement, and a wide grin spread across his face at the mention of video games, showing his enthusiasm. He eagerly agreed and told his father, "I would be fine. You should go with them while I stay here and play games."
Ryu thought, "He is young; he would be better paired with Kaia and Akihiro."
A new sense of peace settled over Mukai as the tension that had defined his life for years began to dissipate. "So my work starts today," he said, a hint of a smile on his face.
"This will be the longest bodyguard mission ever for you," Ryu quipped. He then grew serious again. "I also want you to do something for me, but it can wait until after we meet with the Lord Hokage."
They walked towards the Hokage's office; Dan was already familiar with the people there. Dan knocked on the ornate door, and a moment later, the familiar, deep voice of Hiruzen Sarutobi called out, "Come in."
The Hokage looked up, his expression one of mild surprise as the large group entered. "Dan, what a surprise. And you brought a whole entourage," he said with a warm chuckle.
Ryu's gaze immediately fell on the desk, where an object lay open next to a stack of paperwork. The Hokage's new flip phone. A genuine smile touched his lips. Hiruzen noticed his glance. "You created something incredible, Ryu," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "I can actually talk to the patrol guards circling the border of the village in real time without involving the Yamanaka clan. It's amazing."
"I hope the Yamanaka clan sees it that way," Ryu replied, his tone light but with a subtle edge.
Hiruzen's smile widened. "They do. Not all of their clan members can communicate over this range without setting up an amplifier first, and that's not easy to do. It's a technique only used in wartime, so your invention is an incredible strategic advantage." He then asked, "When will the City of Fire be added to the network?"
"Next month," Ryu said, "but connecting both cities will take another few months."
The Hokage's gaze then fell upon Kaori and Mukai. He looked at Mukai. "You are on a guarding mission, Mukai?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Mukai replied, his voice firm and respectful. "You could say I am on a permanent mission. I have been officially hired by the Hamura clan."
"That is a big win for the Hamura clan, but I also see it as an official loss for the village," Hiruzen said with a sigh. "You will not be taking any more village missions from now on?"
Mukai replied, "No, Lord Hokage."
"It's fine," Hiruzen said with a wise nod. "Our boy genius and Dan both have bounties on their heads. It is in the interest of the village that they are well protected."
Dan stepped forward, his expression grave. "Lord Hokage, we are here to talk about something urgent."
Hiruzen's posture shifted. "You look serious, Dan."
"It is serious," Dan replied. "Serious enough that it can involve other villages."
Hiruzen got the hint. His gaze moved upwards, and with a barely perceptible gesture, all the windows and secret doors sealed shut. Privacy seals replaced the hidden guards as the room became a secure, impenetrable vault.
Dan then said, "We think we have found some chakra metal in the Land of Rivers."
The words landed with the weight of a stone. Hiruzen's eyes widened, his usual calm demeanour shattering. Mukai's reaction was equally dramatic; his jaw dropped in disbelief. He had just heard about chakra metal from Ryu, but to learn of its discovery in a small, defenceless nation... Now, he understood the true urgency of the situation and the sheer gravity of what Ryu had risked to save his son. His respect for Ryu was now higher than it had ever been.
"What is the estimated amount?" 'Hiruzen asked, his voice low and strained.
"We don't know yet," Dan replied. "But we are further testing underground soil samples to determine the extent of it. With the Hyuga in action, we can quickly get a better idea. But in any case, we should be ready for other villages to make a move. The Land of Rivers is not a powerful nation. It cannot defend itself without our intervention."
Hiruzen rubbed his temples. "We need to tell the Lord Daimyo before involving ourselves with other nations."
"The Daimyo of the Land of Rivers is coming to the Fire Capital," Dan explained. "The Lord Daimyo's letter will be arriving soon, and you will also be called. We came to inform you in advance."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "You are here before their letter came, so you want to ask for something."
"Yes," Dan said. "We are here to ask you to entrust some of the chakra metal we found to the Hamura Industry. If you suggest it, then it can happen."
Hiruzen was taken aback. A resource so valuable, so dangerous, was always taken over by the ninja village, not a private company. "What are you going to do with it?"
Ryu smiled and replied, "I don't think there will be much larger quantities, but even so, it is a valuable resource. I intend to use it for research. In the past and even now, I want to see if I can create something more than just a blade with this metal."
Ryu expressed his passionate desire to revolutionise the application of chakra metal in technology and weaponry, with the aim of pushing the boundaries of innovation beyond existing limits.
##PoWeR StOnEs##
A/N:
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